The Sharks had today off, but I spent it trying to look at – and explain – what Patrick Marleau has accomplished so far this season.

Yes, the focus ended up being on Marleau’s effort silencing his critics (for now at least) with an amazing nine goals in five games. And, yes, I reached Jeremy Roenick, who said he was happy to see Marleau light things up and hopes his success continues.

“I don’t mind when somebody tries to stuff something back in my face. I hope he’s on a mission to be as good as he possibly can be,” is the gist of the quote that appears in the print edition, along with Roenick reminding us that he never questioned Marleau’s skill, just his effort level and drive.

I think that quote sums up what Marleau’s former teammate had to say. Here’s the URL for the story: http://www.mercurynews.com/sharks/ci_22469181/san-jose-sharks-patrick-marleau-answers-critics-sizzling

But Roenick didn’t stop there in assessing the Sharks and their top line. And while space is a factor in the print edition, it isn’t here.

“He is playing with the best playmaker in hockey, Joe Thornton,” Roenick said. “I think Joe has done an unbelievable job of putting the puck on Patty’s stick in some of the best scoring areas possible and Patty’s not missing.

“I’ve always said that Patty was one of the most talented player I’ve ever played with or against for that matter. I have no qualms with his talent. It’s five games in. I hope he goes through the best season of his career and hope the Sharks have the best season of his career. That’s going to help them, for sure.”

Then Roenick shifted emphasis to the post-season.

“He can’t go through four playoff games pointless. He’s doing it in the beginning of the season, but just like everybody else, it has to be shown when the games get really big.”

Roenick called the Marleau-Thornton-Pavelski line the best in hockey right now and added that Marleau is probably one of the top three players in the game.

“I think Patrick is really going toward the hole, going toward those dirty areas. But he’s always gone to those dirty areas. My problem with him wasn’t that he wouldn’t go to those areas. It’s the effort level.

“I hope Patrick plays like this all year. I would love it if he won the scoring title, I would love it if he won the Hart Trophy, I would love it if he won the Stanley Cup. Absolutely. If he does, he deserves every bit of it because his talent is over the edge.”

Now I could let Roenick have the last word on the subject.

But instead that will go to another one of Marleau’s ex-teammates, Manny Malhotra. We talked about Marleau on Sunday when Malhotra was here with the Canucks. I didn’t end up using anything from our conversation in the print edition story, in part because Malhotra didn’t end up playing, in part because what he said was almost identical to the quotes from Brad Stuart when it came to defending against a red-hot player, in this case Marleau.

But we also talked about the outside criticism of Marleau, that he didn’t fully use his size and skills. Unfair?

“Very much so,” Malhotra said. “Patty does all the right things. When I was here and talking to guys around the room and around the league, he receives a lot of unfair criticism. He does the same things night in and night out. He’s a great player, a great teammate but for some reason the media wants to have a whipping boy in San Jose and he’s that guy.”

*****Even on days off, players recovering from injuries sometimes show up to skate. Don’t know if that was the case with Brent Burns today, but the Sharks defenseman has been back on the ice in recent days, though not skating in full practices with his teammates. Sunday morning’s skate was his third.

Still no timetable for his return.

*****If you missed it, Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog was scratched from tonight’s game, reportedly because of leg and head injuries related to that hit he took from Brad Stuart in Saturday’s game. Landeskog, if you recall, did come back to play in the second and third periods.

Concussion symptoms, of course, can be delayed. But contrary to speculation in Denver, I can’t see this development prompting the NHL to change its mind and suddenly suspend Stuart. That isn’t how the league works and, frankly, close examination of the hit does not justify supplemental discipline.

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

What am I saying, we’ve already seen the rosterbation and the team is undefeated.

I’ll give some of that credit to fantasy hockey though. Testing out your next move seems to be a normal thing to do here.

Stevo

GP,

In all fairness, you said – and I’m sorry I can’t recall it or find it – some equally succinct and accurate stuff about why do some folks get so irate at the NHL teams for ‘screwing’ them re the lockout, when was no legitimate basis for it.

I just remember how spot on it was, and that I’d wished that I’d thought of it first 😉

scp

we’ll see a different reaction in a few months when Marleau and the sharks fade out again in the playoffs

Buddy Elf

Interesting PK stats from around the league:

Sharks PK now in top 20 (#18)… going 7 for 7 in a game will do that.

The Bruins are 100%, killing off 23 penalties. That is amazing.

The Jets have only been a man down 11 times in 5 games. (They’ve let in 3 though.)

St. Louis is doing a little worse than the Sharks on the PK.

The Islanders are 2-2-1 and have the 3rd best PK right now and a shorthanded goal. And they are still only 2-2-1?

The Ducks have the worst PK in the league…. let’s hope the Sharks keep it that way tonight.

Beer League Rocks

I’ll jump in and agree with a bunch of this mornings posts, names not needed, you know who you are. Enjoy this start for what it is. It’s a hell of a lot of fun. Great time to be a Sharks fan. Lockout. I’d forgotten that happened. Superbowl, oh yea, the niners are playing in that game. I’m not thinking the sharks will win the cup, but they sure look awesome so far. And this is without Burns. He will be like a mid season addition. Irwin looks pretty solid, for the most part, and I was under the impression that the Sharks didn’t have any NHL worthy dmen in woosta. I’m a glass half full guy, but I must say the glass is pretty damn full at this point, it’s spilling over the top. The glass half empty crowd just doesn’t know how to react when their cup runith(sp) over. Just remember to not scratch that nasty itch when it appears, less it become a rash. Don’t let DP’s fine blog become what it did last season. We are all (well not everyone) responsible for letting that happen. When adversity appears, it’s about how you deal with it. Some folks just like to dwell on the negative, don’t get sucked in. It’s ok to respond, but remember to not get caught up in it. Well there is one who it’s best not to reply to, but its healthy for people to express differing opinions, sometimes it makes for good debates. Sooner or later the boys will lose a game, or maybe three in a row. The absent posters will be back. Calling them donkeys and trolls will only fan the flames. Just my 10 cents (way to long to just be two cents). Looking forward to tonights game. As a fan, the compressed season is awesome. Go Sharks!!!

Tom (fm Quinzee)

GP – continuing from yesterday, about the League maybe clearing out the Avery’s, Ott’s, et al. I thought that was going on right up until the Flyers/Penguins in the POs last year. That was some pretty dirty s***, and I go back a few years, long enough to have seen in person the Broad Street Bullies. I bring that up only to use as a measuring stick. Then there was the Yotes/B-Hawks, where Torres finally got suspended, but in my not-at-all humble opinion (on this subject), not nearly for long enough. THEN the League reduces the suspension! If the League truly wants to send a message, THAT type of crap needs something on the order of 50+ games. To me, that crap is far worse than steroids or the PED flavor-of-the-month.

To me, this is a guy trying to say the “right” things to get off the hook. As the article points out, this is his 6th incident that got supplemental punishment.

Anyhow, I’ll get off the soapbox.

And re Marleau / JR, I do have some agreement w/ JR on this. Not total agreement, but Marleau does have a somewhat spotty history (to be polite) when it comes to the more physical aspects of hockey. I don’t consider myself a “hater” – whatever that means – but to me, he’s got to prove it on both ends of the ice. This year, so far, he looks great.

And I’d still use him (Marleau) on the PK – a couple or three seasons ago he showed he’s one of the best in the game on the PK, and that’s been a weakness that his type of PK work can help w/. By “his type,” I mean that he pounces on the puck. I believe he had at least 4 shorties on very limited PK duty that season. Oh, well, … if TMac would only listen to me… (he’d fall asleep – I provide my own punch lines).

Beer League Rocks

scp @54, we will see won’t we. Why do you just assume that will happen? Have you no faith?

Stevo

Nice pic of Crankshaft and Volpatt,i Buddy Elf.

I didn’t know Murray was sportin’ a bigazz mohawk under his hat!

Beer League Rocks

Tom (fm Quinzee), Some may knock Marleau for not being physical enough, given his size, but IMO, he is a very good two way player. And props for eating a little crow, and moving past it (but saving some in the freezer for others later). I think Marleau has had some pk time this season, but they sure do seem to be using a lot of guys for it.

Buddy Elf

Tom: PP, Top Line… and more PK mins? I agree with your points… but that’s logging a lot of minutes. Those times he pounced on the puck for breakaway SHG’s were awesome.

Buddy Elf

ZEKE (last thread): “Second line scoring? Well, not so much. At even strength here are our goals so far, outside of Jumbo, Marleau and Pavs:

Havlat: 2
Vlasic: 1
Irwin: 1 (coming a few seconds after a PP ended)

Not exactly burning it up.”

—

Couture has 1 even strength goal too… I know it doesn’t change what you said much, just letting ya know.

Beer League Rocks

Lack of third and fourth line scoring is a concern, although it hasn’t hurt the Sharks, yet. I’d take Seto back, if the Wild are just going to sit him. I think he’d look good with Gomez. They can have Petecki and a third rounder. They may want to dump some salary. Bet they regret signing Mitchell. Waste of good money.

Buddy Elf

All Sharks who take faceoffs are above 50% (besides Clowe)… Desi and Gomez lead the team % wise…

Handzus has 61% FO wins and 10 blocks…

Irwin leads the team with 11 blocks…

Couture has zero giveaways (zero takeaways too)…

Gomez averaging 2 giveaways per game…

Thornton has 1 less giveaway than Gomez…

Wingels 3rd in hits behind Clowe and Murray…

Beer League Rocks

Petrecki woops.

Not worried about second line. They will come around and score more. Really like watching a healthy Havlat. He skates around the offensive zone sometimes like a beer league player who’s playing at a level he has no business slumming in. Damn ringers.

GP

Tom Q,

continuing, I don’t disagree that the stuff still happens.

My point is just a feeling…that there are less of those players being These Torres, Burrows, Ott players are a little older. If Burish is one of these players(IMO, he’s an honest player), he may be one of the youngest. I admit I don’t know how old that gutless puke Burrows is.

I think all these dishonest players are still in the league simply because they have just enough or plenty of hockey skill. Ott is one of these guys. His hockey is tremendous — hen he actually plays it.

Sidenote on Ott: I am so conflicted with him on the Sabres right now. I’ve been a Sabres fan since the LaFontaine and Mogilny days. In the Sabres games I’ve seen so far this season, I’ve seen Ott extend his diving career. Embarrassing!

Snow Shovel

Rose, I’ve taken your advice and printed out the Sharks Roster. I’ve had it before me for the past two games and the players and their numbers are starting to take with me.

The faces are much easier to identify with, but the numbers are taking me longer.

Good idea.

Hockeynut

“Sitoguchi” was mine 🙂

I like what I’m seeing so far from the Sharks as far as chemistry and effort but I worry that the “older” guys will wear down as the compacted season progresses. I think with that in mind McLellan needs to parse out minutes based more on the score and situation than just the regular line rotation. I’m worried that a prolonged losing streak in late March/April will offset the hot start. It will be interesting to see how things play out.

icehawkey

Stuff it self important Elf. I’ve been here all along and giving credit where credit is due, even to Nemo! I won’t praise TMac too much though because I think it’s Big Bird & JJ that have changed the way this team is coached and now plays.

Stevo

Hockeynut,

It takes a lot to get me to laugh like I did when I read your “Sitoguchi” crack!

ZEKE

I stand corrected Buddy @62. As you indicated, the point is pretty much the same, not much even strength scoring except from the top line.

ZEKE

Took a glance at the standings — turns out tonight’s game is a pretty big one for this early in the season. Sharks and Ducks are the only teams in the division to average more than 1 point per game. A Sharks regulation win puts them 6 points ahead of the Ducks — and gives them pretty nice lead over the rest of the division.

I know there’s lots of hockey still to be played, but a lead provides some room for error. We can play aggressive, this season isn’t hinging on 1 or 2 plays like it was at the end of last season.

Juda T. Azzopardi

Mr.Roenick Please show us all Shark fans that a man like you can EAT CROW. I am still not over your insults you delighfully contributed last year putting down Patrick & saying that he doesn’t show up.
I respected you only until then and I will never ever forgive you….oh and you also disappointed my children too.
There!! got it of off my chest.
We love Patty. “GO SHARKS”
Jude

Jeffrey H

Roenick is classless, period! So sick of his personal attacks on Patty. What a loser.

Joe

It’s a shame that Patrick Marleau’s accomplishments, which are tangible, measurable fact, will forever be linked to Jeremy Roenick’s criticisms, which are not tangible, nor measurable, nor fact.

CJ

right on PM keep it up!!

perfect hit stuey!!

spot on JR

GO GO GO SHARKS!

CJ

wtf sharks fans on the JR hate……..

if yer a sharks gm watcher, then you dam well know the PM history on his style of play
the words from JR resonate real good, due to his resume and the fact JR played with PM for 2 years. saw PM from afar in his career and in person for 2. ya dont think JR was chompin at the bit to be a winger for jumbo? naw couldnt have a 7 mil dude play on the 3rd and 4th line “PM” so they stick a sniper in JR on the 4th line @ a mil a yr. let the guy get the crap banged out of him till the body gave out at seasons end. JR deserved a better line placement and ice time at the end of his career.
as for his take on PM it is spot on. for you to say otherwise???
lay off the koolaid
TRUTH MAY STING A BIT, BUT ITS FOR YER OWN GROWTH”

liamgj

Hey, all. Hi, DP.

I enjoy the blog a lot. I like the on-the-scenes nature of it (so, thanks. Keep up the good work). I also appreciate the community of posters. There seems to be a good group of commenters that are all pretty much on the same page (regarding trolls, at least — I was impressed by how you all handled a recent episode), and you also seem to enjoy your conversations (as do I).

Anyways, I’ll PROBABLY just read for the most part this year, but I do want to take this opportunity to vent by saying that I’m still kinda mad at Roenick for stirring up a bunch of what I consider to be mostly, or entirely, noise.